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By TERRY WEBER Sun Times Staff HEPWORTH -â€" A bowling ball won’t play with your children. A snowmobile won't bring your sli hers after .a hard day's work. '1 d a pair of skis won't guard your home against burglars late at night. But a good sled dog will do all thosesthings and more. ‘f It‘e'the sport of friends. accordâ€" to many of the 33 competitors fine: across the province at this part» weekend's dog sled races at prorth Royal Canadian Le- While hooking up their team of ‘ ‘ 'sn huskies. Anita and Doug of Purple Valley said each own ,personali‘ty'with Once the dogs are in place the rest is natural. he said. "It's ingrained in them. They love to he said. That means even if the sled y‘ tips. the dogs keep going and the driver hangs on, said Anita. "I’ve done that a lot of times," she said. Racing is iust as fulfilling for the driver. said Doug. "It gives you a reason to get up i in the morning.“ he said. He said the dogs know from the minute the harness comes out of the garage, they're going for a run. They get excited as the race draws closer. straining at their chains to get out on the field. When the frantic activity gets to be too much. Anita steps in. “Talk nicely to each other." she tells the dogs. "Don't be arguing." Two minutes before race time the barking and yelping starts all over again and continues until each team is out on the course. 3‘- _‘-Then the dogs are silent. The work viagtoohard to waste energy 9- leans into the traces as their driver hangs on at Hepworth Saturday js, drivers just love to race Although the Siberian husky is the Closest breed of dog to Ihe wolf. organizer Dan Gale said the animals' temper is even. Gale said his first dog. now 15 years old. has retired to the posi- tion of master at the house Enid Kirby of Kitchener got into the sport when she was given a pup by a friend. She was so taken by the friendly animal she got an- other. The family soon started using the dogs to get them into their cottage in Parry Sound dur- ing winter and next thing she knew she was a sled dog enthuv siasl, You can't beat it. she said. On weekends the family goes to the races and meets new people and through the week the dogs keep them company. Kirby knows the dogs as well as she knows anyone. Pointing to the mother of most of the pack she laughed, “she walks around like she‘s queen of the yard, but really she's the meaâ€" keat." We! /? Pg - .30 M» II Sun Tlrnes phului 1_\ In H Hop.-